The following morning, I woke up with a knot of tension in my stomach and an unsettling sense that something was awry. The gentle morning breeze rustled through the leaves high above, casting an eerie calmness over the forest. I descended from the tree, a growing unease wrapped around me like a suffocating shroud. My heart quickened its beat as I surveyed my surroundings with an increasing sense of dread.

Did they leave without me? The horse is gone and so are Yuki and Ryuu. There are multiple footsteps, maybe bandits? I silently threaded deeper into the forest. After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled upon a bandit camp. They seemed to have had too much to drink as they were sound asleep. From the shadows I stabbed one by one, extending their sleep.

“We're under attack!”one of the men yelled, alerting the others. Swiftly I dashed towards him, cutting him in half. I managed to break the cage that held Yuki and Ryuu. With Ryuu’s help I was able to defeat the last two, but not without receiving some injuries.

By the end, I was drenched in blood, the odor made my vision blurry. Yuki's voice trembled with shock as she exclaimed, "Are you a monster?" She looked terrified, while Ryuu, recognizing the grim necessity of my actions, attempted to soothe her with a reassuring touch. I spared a few words, instead urging them hurriedly to resume our journey.

A profound toll exacted on my body, marked by a deep gash on my left shoulder and a throbbing sprained ankle. We cautiously made our way through the dense forest, our steps muffled by the thick underbrush, Yuki couldn't stay quite. She turned to me, her eyes wide with wonder, and asked, "How did you manage to defeat them all, so swiftly and silently? It was like watching a ghost in action!"

I glanced at her, my voice low, "Years of training, It's about knowing when to strike and when to stay hidden." Her words before seemed to be caused by shock, still they hurt. “Maybe I can give you some one-on-one lessons,”I said with a big grin on my face.

“Yeah sure I would love that.” She responded with a bright smile, this made me flustered, I turned to look away

Ryuu chimed in "But you were hurt badly. That gash on your shoulder looks nasty.".

I nodded, gritting my teeth against the pain.The adrenaline that had fueled our escape was waning, and exhaustion was setting in. "Yeah I know, we can't afford to lose any more time. We have to find shelter and tend to our wounds."

Yuki was quick to respond, "Where are we headed? Do you have a plan?"

I paused to consider our options. "We should reach the nearby village before nightfall. There should be a healer there. They can patch us up and provide some answers about who those kidnappers were and why they targeted us."

Ryuu glanced back towards the direction we came from, worry etched on his face. "I can't help but wonder who those men were and why they were so determined to take us. Did you recognize any of them?"

I shook my head, my mind racing with possibilities. "No, I didn't. But we'll find out soon enough. We'll get to the bottom of this."

As we trudged onward, the distant village lights began to flicker through the trees. Upon reaching the village just as the last vestiges of daylight faded, we made our way to the humble cottage of the healer. The elderly woman, known as Ela, welcomed us warmly, her eyes widening with concern as she took in our battered appearances.

She ushered us inside, tending to our wounds with a practiced touch. As she carefully cleaned and dressed my shoulder wound, I decided to broach the subject that weighed on our minds. "Ela, we were attacked by a group of men in the forest. Do you know anything about them?"

Ela paused for a moment, her wrinkled brow furrowing as if she was deliberating whether to reveal the information. Finally, she sighed and said, "I'm not supposed to talk about this, but it's important for you to know. Those men were part of an infamous group known as 'The Shadows of Rockbourne.' They're known for their ruthless tactics and secrecy."

Yuki and Ryuu exchanged nervous glances, and I leaned in, urging Ela to continue. "Tell us more about them, Ela. Why would they target us?"

She lowered her voice to a whisper, as if afraid the walls might have ears. "The Shadows of Rockbourne are mercenaries, hired by the highest bidder to do their dirty work. They're involved in smuggling, espionage, and all sorts of criminal activities. Someone must have a powerful grudge against you or something valuable to gain by taking you."

The gravity of the situation hung heavy in the room as we absorbed this information. Yuki spoke up, her voice quivering, "But who would want to harm us so badly? We're just passing through."

Elara offered a sympathetic glance. "I don't have answers to that, dear, but you must be cautious. These shadows are relentless, and they won't give up easily."

After we left Ela’s cottage Yuki and Ryuu purchased 2 rooms in an inn, they offered to pay for mine but i never really enjoyed sleeping in an inn. I took refuge on a tree next to the path we were taking.

Did The Shadows target us by chance alone or is there something else I'm missing. We were now the proud owners of three horses, having let the rest of the steeds from the camp roam free. Realistically, those horses wouldn't have been of much use to us anyway. This greatly reduced our week-long trip to only two more days.

The next morning as I cared for our horses, Yuki approached me with a noticeably gentler demeanor. "Hey, Yuri," she began with caution.

"Yes?" I said as I turned my focus to her. Her short hair was tied up leaving her bangs hanging, her beautiful red eyes made me feel nervous.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

She continued, her expression slightly nervous, "I wanted to apologize for what I said when you rescued us. I understand it might not mean much, but I hope you can accept this." In her hand, she held a delicate gold bracelet adorned with small rubies and what looked like emeralds. I hesitated briefly but then accepted it, sliding it onto my right wrist.

"It's a bit too feminine for my taste," I remarked, "but I appreciate it."

"Jerk, next time I won't even bother." Yuki's initial tension seemed to dissipate "Could you sleep closer to me tonight?" she suddenly asked, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

I couldn't help but find her request endearing. "Ah, so you want to cuddle with me?"

She quickly backtracked, her face still flushed. "Never mind, forget it."

Despite her protests, after a long day we ended up settling closer together that night. A brief silence filled the air, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the crackling of the campfire.

"Hey," I began softly, "does this mean i can touch your breasts?."

Yuki remained silent, her mind seemingly lost in thought."I'm just joking but do you believe people can change?" I inquired, seeking some insight.

Still, there was no response from Yuki. I inwardly sighed, sensing that I may have asked too much at the moment.

The following morning, we resumed our journey towards the illustrious academy. As we continued on our path, I felt the need to reassure my companions. "Just a few more minutes, and we'll be there," I said, trying to ease their anticipation.

We moved beyond the dense cover of trees, the academy slowly came into view. Its exterior was nothing short of imposing, carved meticulously from the very stone of the mountainside. These formidable stone walls served not only as a protective barrier but also left an indelible and awe-inspiring first impression.

Upon stepping onto the academy's grounds, we were greeted by a serene courtyard adorned with meticulously tended gardens, tranquil ponds, and cherry blossom trees that seemed to be in perpetual bloom. Graceful stone bridges arched over placid waters, leading the way to specialized training pavilions, each dedicated to various aspects of swordsmanship.

Taking in the grandeur of it all, I couldn't help but voice my thoughts. "This place is truly impressive," I mused quietly to myself, a twinge of doubt creeping in about my decision not to attend.

Upon entering the principal's office, we were taken aback when the principal himself addressed us. "Ah, if it isn't Shinji's children. I distinctly remember receiving admissions for just two," he remarked casually, his tone nonchalant.

Before I could offer an explanation, he swiftly redirected his attention to Yuki. "No need to fret, Miss Yuki. We can certainly make accommodations for your boyfriend here," he said with a knowing smile.

Yuki's face flushed a deep shade of red, and she exclaimed, "He's not my boyfriend!"

I quickly chimed in, "I'm not interested in joining either!"

The principal, seemingly undeterred by Yuki's outburst, turned his focus to me. "Oh, is that so? May I inquire about your name?" he asked in a measured tone.

I replied firmly, "Yuri… Yuri Tsundora."

There was a momentary pause before he ventured another question. "May I assume you are the son of Erwin Tsundora?" His inquiry caught me off guard. How did he know my father? It suddenly occurred to me that my father might have had a connection to a prestigious institution like this. Whispers in my hometown had hinted that my father had been on the verge of becoming the world's greatest swordsman before abruptly quitting.

The principal continued, his curiosity piqued, "So, Yuri, son of Erwin, what is your dream?"

I mulled over his question, pondering whether enrolling in this prestigious academy would set me on a path similar to my father's. Would I too end up as nothing more than a farmer, toiling away in a small, nondescript town, gazing wistfully at swords that could have fulfilled his unfulfilled dreams? These thoughts weighed heavily on my mind as I contemplated my future.

The principal's sharp gaze fixated on the sword hanging at my side, and he continued, his voice carrying a hint of skepticism, "If your aspirations mirror those of your father, I must admit, you don't seem even half the man he was. Enrolling here may prove to be a futile endeavor for you."

Before I could formulate a response, Yuki, my steadfast friend, interjected assertively, "Yuri will absolutely achieve his dream!" Her eyes blazed with conviction as she added, "He's an exceptional swordsman."

The principal, however, remained unswayed by Yuki's spirited defense, causing her to retreat, her earlier audacity tempered by the principal's skepticism.

Undeterred, I spoke up with unwavering determination, "I will be the greatest swordsman and I don't need this stupid school to do so!"

To my surprise, the principal issued an unexpected challenge. "Very well, I propose a duel. If you lose, you shall attend this Academy."

I hesitated briefly, contemplating the stakes. If I emerged victorious, it would validate my belief that I could become the greatest swordsman without the confines of a school. "Very well," I replied with newfound resolve, "I accept this duel."

In the illustrious halls of the renowned academy, I stood with unwavering confidence, facing the imposing figure of Principal Kaito. The courtyard buzzed with anticipation as students and instructors gathered to witness the impending clash, their eyes fixed upon me. Some observed with curiosity, while others watched with thinly veiled amusement, their expectations high for the spectacle that was about to unfold.

Clutching my sword tightly, I held onto my unwavering belief in my impending victory as the duel commenced. Principal Kaito initiated the match with a display of skill that initially went unnoticed by my overconfident self. I regarded the bout as a mere formality, my strikes embellished with an air of arrogance. With eager determination, I lunged forward, ready to demonstrate my prowess.

However, Principal Kaito moved gracefully, his every move calculated with precision. Effortlessly, he deflected each of my attacks, rendering me disarmed within a matter of moments. The courtyard fell into an awkward, stunned silence, my overestimation of my abilities leading to a humiliating defeat. Principal Kaito maintained a stern expression as he offered his insight, "Yuri, there is much you have yet to grasp, but I do see some talent in you."

Squashing my wounded pride, I nodded in acknowledgment, fully embracing the weight of my hubris. I turned away from the duel, a mixture of defeat and humility weighing on my shoulders. Yuki attempted to console me, her voice laced with sympathy as she called my name, "Yuri..."

I sighed, attempting to inject a touch of levity into the situation. "I genuinely believed I could win. By the way, Yuki, you're a second-year student here, correct?"

Yuki confirmed, her expression empathetic. "Yes, even though we share the same age, you'll be a year younger."

Curiosity stirred within me, and I pressed for more details. "Hold on, how old are you, Yuki?"

She responded casually, "I'm 18... Why?"

Disappointment washed over me as I recognized the age gap. "I'm 17."

Yuki chuckled playfully, a grin tugging at her lips. "Well then, that makes me your senior!" She quickly ran to my side. “Want to go get something to eat?”

This is a date, right? Yeah totally a date. “Yeah sure”